Students live in family homestays or shared apartments (Wohngemeinschaften) located within commuting distance of the teaching facilities. The Berlin Wohngemeinschaft might best be understood as the postwar attempt, by students and other city residents, to take advantage of the spacious apartments constructed in the early twentieth century.

Anywhere from two to six people now share many of the city's apartments. Students should also be aware that the "traditional" family (two parents, children under 18 still at home) is becoming a rarity in urban Germany, and that she or he may be placed with an older couple, cousins, or in other family configurations. Whether in single or double rooms, students share clean, safe and well-maintained accommodations. Apartments are equipped with the essentials, including cooking utensils and linens. Most of the homestay families involved in the program are long-term residents of Berlin and can offer students a rich background of personal experiences, along with the opportunity to practice conversational German every day.